There are numerous resources available to those struggling with mental illness. We have for you numerous websites to connect with! You can contact us at 212-957-5090. Our mailing address is 347 west 37th street, New York, NY 10018

The Reintegration Awards have been honoring those who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of individuals with serious mental illnesses since 1997. We are changing the name of the awards to "Inspiring Hope Awards". We continue our partnership with the National Council For Community Behavioral Healthcare...

The Morning Side Westside Bulletin founded in 1994 has a new home. A unique organization of consumer-family-profesional alliance.In the upcoming weeks you will see numerous articles and eventually the full journal format. Please visit us and watch our progress.

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2015-2016 academic year, receipients will be notified in July.

Please come back on October 1 to download the 2016-2017 application.

This year, the Center for Reintegration welcomes the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation as they partner with us in offering the Baer Reintegration Scholarship. The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation supports the efforts of organizations working to stimulate education, research and direct care in the mental health field. A businessman and consultant, Mr. Baer personally faced mental health challenges during his lifetime and sought to alleviate the suffering of those living with mental illness. Though he attended Yale University, he was unable to complete his studies, so he returned to his hometown of St. Louis where he worked in the family business, the department store Stix, Baer & Fuller. Through his hard work, he was able to increase the family fortune and upon his death left it in trust to be distributed to programs that serve the mission of reintegration.

We at the Center for Reintegration are proud to welcome this new partner.

The Inspiring Hope Awards, supported by Eli Lilly and Company, are building on the legacy of the Lilly Reintegration Awards and Welcome Back Awards to recognize individuals who’ve shown extraordinary tenacity and courage in battling serious mental illness and are living full lives and pursuing their goals. These awards also honor the clinicians, advocates, and organizations that care for and support these individuals in their recovery, changing lives and building healthy communities. Since 2012, the National Council has partnered with Eli Lilly and Company to present these awards.

The mental health field has a tendency to sit back and avoid conflict. It’s part of the professional formation of mental health clinicians. This can be a useful tool when dealing with a “patient”, not very practical when it comes to dealing with systems and the broader society. Recently, two new tragedies (both in our nation’s capitol) point to the failure of a mental health system overburdened and underfunded.

For years there has been an outcry on how the mental health field has failed it’s “patients” and by direct consequence society as a whole. We look at how the average person with serious and persistent mental illness lives in a substandard living condition, often time s the victim of violence, as opposed to the perpetrator of it, with rates of unemployment reaching 80-90%. When an act of violence occurs, it will receive a disproportionate amount of media scrutiny compared to non mental illness related violence.

Reasons for these discrepancies are numerous with long standing historical basis. Fear and ignorance are the predominant causes of this failure.Another important reason has been the lack of data supporting success for recovery from serious mental illness. We all know what doesn’t work, but how many people understand what does work when it comes to recovery from these terrible illnesses. Fountain House and its’ replications have shown success throughout the world. What we need is to raise the bar of expectations, and look for those programs that deliver hope and real opportunities for reintegration.

We are proud at the Center for Reintegration to be part of the Lilly Scholarships and the Reintegration Awards. For almost twenty years underscoring that recovery from mental illness is possible.

The Lilly Reintegration Scholarship Officially Closes

For 17 years, Eli Lilly and Company was our partner in offering the Lilly ReintegrationScholarship. Back in 1997 it was a novel and radical concept to award college funding to students living with severe and persistent mental illness, but we and Lilly wanted
to show the world what was possible when the proper resources were in place. From GED to PhD, we funded the education of thousands of students and ultimately proved that when provided with community support, financial resources and encouragement,
greatness could be achieved. In fact, Lilly Reintegration Scholars had a graduation rate that far exceeded the national average: 82% vs. 55.5%; as well the average Lilly Reintegration Scholar’s GPA was 3.69 vs. the average college student’s GPA of 3.20.

Through this scholarship program we forged new inroads in reintegration and clearly establishing the rights of those living with mental illness to be on a college campus pursuing and achieving their educational goals.

The Center for Reintegration thanks Eli Lilly and Company for generously supporting our scholarship program over the years and we move forward knowing that college campuses now openly welcome students battling mental health challenges.

My Child Has Schizophrenia

What Should I Do, What Can I Do?

People with schizophrenia typically exhibit their first symptoms during adolescence or young adulthood, and thus are likely to be living with their parents. When parents first learn their child has schizophrenia, they usually experience a range of strong emotions - shock, confusion, dismay, sadness, and even anger. Parents often search frantically for answers that may not exist. They may even deny their child's illness or blame themselves or their circumstances for the illness. Read more>>

We See A Better Life ...

There are numerous forms of psychiatric rehabilitation available in our country; the sad fact is that less than 10% of persons with serious mental illness recieve any. The following is an article about one type of program that we encourage you to explore:

The Clubhouse and Psychiatry

By Thomas J. Malamud

Recently two activities of interest have transpired, concerning the relationship of clubhouse programs and the field of psychiatry.Just a few months ago a Utah-based clubhouse conducted a brief survey of ICCD programs asking if psychiatrists are present on Boards of Directors.Currently, Fountain House is planning on hosting a 2-day seminar exploring the ways that psychiatry and clubhouses can work together in the rehabilitation process.

Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder can be very traumatic words when presented to a person who has just had their first break. Losing your mind, not being able to distinguish reality from fiction can be a scary moment. Imagine if you are 20 years old and told you will never be able to move forward with your life because of it? Usually, many months to years pass before a person gets the appropriate attention for psychotic or mood labile symptoms. Often the person ends up in an ER brought in by police and if the ER isn’t equipped to deal with psychiatric emergencies, the injury gets compounded by the patient hearing derogatory terms thrown at them like “crazy”, wackadoo etc.

In our society there remains fear when dealing with psychotic thoughts that lead to aberrant behavior, including many health professionals. Much is said about quality mental healthprograms, but what does that mean? Symptom relief, staying out of the ER or inpatient unit, is this the best we can do, are these our standards of care?

Over the last ten years we have seen progress in the treatment of serious and persistent mental illness, many persons have moved forward with their lives, working, going back to school, reconnecting with friends and family. Unfortunately, many others have not. Large numbers of homeless persons have serious and persistent mental illness, large numbers of inmates in our prisons have serious and persistent mental illness, too many people are left floundering left to their own devises.

We know what works and we need to present persons struggling with these illnesses real hope and opportunities so they may heal and have productive and fulfilling lives. Programs like Fountain House in New York, the Village in California are two examples of mental health services that go beyond symptoms relief. These programs do reintegration, get people back to work, back to life.

Academic medicine has not embraced this concept; the Harvard’s, Mayo Clinics of the world have not integrated state of the psychiatric care with rehabilitation and reintegration. Without hope and real skills trainings persons with these illnesses will continue to struggle to turn their lives around. They will continue the revolving door of mental health care, they will continue to end up in our prisons, and we will continue to read about terrible incidents like Tuscon, Arizona.

It all begins with each of us understanding that schizophrenia is an illness, no different than any other medical condition. It is an illness that can be treated and that people do get better.

We are what we eat!

Recently, there has been a general revision of the food pyramid and an overall look at nutrition in our country. The FDA is now recomending that ultimately we reduce our total caloric intake, in other words eat less. As more information emerges around nutrition, we believe it is important to revisit how we approach food. Historically we have struggled with good nutrition, poverty being a major impediment to this goal. Today with a greater abundance of food in the western world, often times choices affect the quality of what we eat. Obesity is becoming a greater killer than smoking, and the cost of this disease is breaking the healthcare budget.

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments about this topic. Read more >>

Jury Duty for Persons with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness

A search of the literature for jury duty and mental illness shows the how’s and why's of getting out of jury duty.

However, there is no data that points out the frequency and adherence of persons with serious and persistent mental illness serving as jurors. In most mental health settings, both public and private, it is almost a knee jerk response to excuse persons with illnesses, such as schizophrenia, from taking on their responsibilities as citizens.

We believe, as part of Reintegration, persons in recovery from illness’s such as Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder disorder should participate in jury duty.

If anyone has any information on jury duty participation from persons with serious and persistent mental illness please let us know.

People Say I'm Crazy:

A Filmmaker with Schizophrenia Presents His Personal Experience

People Say I’m Crazy is the first documentary on schizophrenia that was crafted by someone who lives with the illness.John Cadigan produced the film to gain a better understanding of how his schizoaffective disorder—a combination of schizophrenia and depression—impacts himself and his family.Read More>>

Journey into the Brain with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., was a 37-year-old Harvard-trained and published brain scientist when a blood vessel exploded in her brain. Through the eyes of a curious neuroanatomist, she watched her mind completely deteriorate - she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Because of her understanding of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and an amazing mother, Jill completely recovered her mind and body. In My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, Jill shares with us her recommendations for recovery and the insight she gained from having this ironic and unusual voyage into, and back out of, the silent abyss of a wounded mind.

Jill Bolte Taylor is a spokesperson for the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center. Known familiarly as "The Singing Scientist," Jill has served on the NAMI National Board of Directors and has presented in San Angelo and at various NAMI Annual Meetings around the country, including many times at NAMI national meetings. She has a brother who is living in recovery from a serious mental illness.

Weston United Community Renewal, is a not-for-profit organization that has been meeting the needs of the mentally ill and homeless in Harlem since it began its work two decades ago. Its award-winning programs, in particular its housing programs, have been gaining widespread recognition ever since. Read more>>

Thresholds Program Helps Break the Cycle of Incarceration and Hospitalization

Before coming to Chicago’s Thresholds Jail & Prison Program four years ago, William Riley, 53, says he had “given up on life.”Managing schizophrenia for most of his adulthood, Riley lived on the city streets and spent nearly every winter in jail; mostly to get out of the cold, but also to get mental health services. Since becoming part of Thresholds, Riley has not been behind bars at all and has not been in a psychiatric hospital in more than a year.He is stable, has his own apartment, and for the first time, Riley sees a future for himself.Read More>>

Portals Celebrates 50 Years

PORTALS, one of the nation’s leading mental health rehabilitation agencies, celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 18, 2006.Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa served as Honorary Chair for the gala celebration, and literary and entertainment icon Sidney Sheldon served as Event Chair.The event honored five recipients of the Golden Bell Awards. Read more>>

Hearing Voices (Speaking in Tongues) by Michael Mack

Few works of art are as forceful a commentary on severe mental illnesses and how they affect individuals and their families than Michael Mack’s one-man play, “Hearing Voices (Speaking in Tongues).” The play’s subject: growing up with a mother who has schizophrenia. Read the review>>

Kristy Worthen:A Beacon of Light

She was the sweet, quiet girl who recoiled when asked to speak in front of class – but somehow her artwork spoke volumes.We all knew someone like her back in elementary school – but today, Kristy Worthen is definitely one-of-a-kind.

Now, Kristy regularly speaks to large groups.She shares with them her life experiences - because this shy little girl grew into a troubled young teen, complete with mood swings and depression; then things got worse, the delusions began.While neither Kristy nor her family knew it, she was battling bipolar disorder. Read more>>

I Don’t Need To Take Medicine

The symptoms of diseases such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders are both scary and devastating. The good news is, all of these symptoms can be greatly reduced or eliminated by the recently developed, so-called atypical antipsychotic drugs that have fewer of the problematic side effects. But the bad news is half of all consumers with these serious mental diseases stop taking their drugs, leading to a greater risk of relapse.

So why don’t many consumers take their medications? Many reasons are given by consumers including cost and side effects. But one commonly recurring theme is that many consumers simply don’t believe they are ill. Why would anyone take a medication they don’t need?